The Chicago Cubs made only two acquisitions at the trade deadline and neither were as significant as the rumors hyped them up to be. Why? Well, it seems as if the Cubs' front office has their sights set on the talented impending free agent class.
General manager Jed Hoyer appeared on MLB Network Radio with Casey Stern and Jim Bowden to talk about the state of the Cubs as well as their moves prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. Various rumors linked them to top starters Cole Hamels, David Price, Jordan Zimmermann, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and others, but Chicago only came away with veteran starter Dan Haren and reliever Tommy Hunter.
It's clear their top necessity was a starting pitcher, but Hoyer and the front office remained patient.
"There's going to be a lot of free agent pitchers," Hoyer said yesterday. "That did have an impact on the deadline, with so many guys available this winter."
Those players include Price, Zimmermann, Johnny Cueto, Zack Greinke, Jeff Samardzija, Scott Kazmir, Mike Leake, Yovani Gallardo, among others. Chicago did not want to surrender some of the top talent in their farm system for a rental starter or even for someone they can control beyond 2015 because the front office likely figured they could just sign a top arm to a long-term deal in the offseason.
"It's understandable why the Cubs ultimately didn't part with their prospect stash for a young starter such as [Tyson] Ross or [Carlos] Carrasco, as the Cubs may be a year away," Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote after the deadline. "Folks are convinced Chicago will get one of the great free-agent starters. Price will be their top target, but Zack Greinke, Jordan Zimmermann and Cueto could be in play for them as well."
President of baseball operations Theo Epstein spoke with Bruce Levine of 670 The Score yesterday as well and the front office executive noted the team is still "not close on any deal" as the waiver deadline approaches on Aug. 31. Despite the team's success this season, it still appears they'll be waiting to make the momentous upgrades once free agency begins.
"The Cubs, in fact, are on pace to finish with their fourth best record in the last 70 years," writes FOX Sports' Jon Morosi. "Their .571 winning percentage trails only the 2008, 1984, and 1989 teams over that span."
And just imagine what it's going to be like next year when all these rookies (Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler) have a full season under their belt and the front office brings in a top starter (or two) to join up with Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel.
